New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-22
A POLICEMAN'S FATAL SHOT.
An INNOCENT MAN KILLED IN CENTRE-sr.'

A POLICEMAN'S FATAL SHOT.
An INNOCENT MAN KILLED IN CENTRE-sT.'
1rcxIEss SHOOTING BY oyYIcKR ADAMS, WHO HAD
(. LOST PRISONER
CAsrles Adams Of the Elizabeth-st squad. has been
from duties and IL under arrest on charge
A .nslauehter for having ahot and killed Pantano
O.ps,e Yesterday The shooting accidental and was
done by the officer when he pursuing prisoner who
had escaped from him the way from the Tombs Police
Court to the Tombs Prison.
Ofncer Adams while patrolling his post in Park Row
early yesterday morning. arrested stouy built young
man who carrying suit Of clothes that were not
wrapped up He unable to give satisfactory expa-
nation as to where the clothes came from and he
taken TO the Ellzabethst station where he gave the
name OF James Murray, Of No. 14s Leonardst he was
looked up and 1t found that his real name was James
Mccarthy and that he had broken open window In
Church Brothers clothing store at No. 100 Park HOW ana
stolen the clothes. Officer Adams had also arrested
Timothy Dehan, age thirteen, Of No. l4l Mui
berryst. for stealing mans watch from MS POCKET "
M Adams took his two prisoners to the Tombs Police
Court and they brought up before romeo 1usuce
Duffy who held them for trial
Prisoners are taken from the courtroom to the prison
Office below narrow, crooked stairway, beginning
uet back of the bench leading to the iron gate on the
Franklin-st side of the prison. The stairway Is so
narrow that two persons cannot abreast, so that
An officer taking o prisoner from the court
room either let him In front or behind As the
gate leading is left open since Warden Walsh
took charge during the visiting hours from 1880 O. m
until p m without a guard. there is nothing to
prevent strong desperate prisoner from either knocking
his captor down should he be behind or Jerking
in 'front.' dashDg into the street with more than
. fair chance Of escape Adams took his two prisoners
down the stairs, Mccarthy In front and Dehan behind
When they reached the foot OF the stairs Mccarthy
saw the open door and with sudden powerful wrench
tore himself from the officer and darted out into
the street Adams left his other prisoner ana started In
pursuit. The prisoner had good start, . however,
he City Hall Adams saw that Mccarthy was gaining on
i"svs and he pulled TIN the ' 1aSssf
Fun faster Another anheedsd command 70 lat was
Ss By DSs Hna S
farks This the last Of him. An open scutte
that CITY
Adamss second bullet had done fatal work. Among
those who watched the chase n Was age
druggist at No. 81 Centrest Young Canale was stand
ne talking to friend in front OF his fathers place , when en-
uttered sharp elaPped his hands to his right breast
S na 6s
Dr. Canae rushed aid Of his and did all that
Adams, when he found that his prisoner was lost
started back TO the Tombs, and he passing the
Of his reckless shooting in crowded toroughfsre He
was completely unnamed and another policeman sent
stricken young man was carried the hospital He sank
rapidly and was almost unconscious when the hospital
was reached At 1890 O'clock he died HIS father has
Of whom Pantalino was the youngest He was sickly
boy and not at work.
Adams went the station and reported to Cap
tain McCuagh how he had lost his prisoner and the I'M
fortunate Of his shooting The captain reprmand
"a him 70" his 0,s the m s snd MS
crowded street as Centrest. Is at that hour;
Known at the Station the captain put Adams under
rest and suspended him pending an investigation nd
was taken by Captain McCnllagh in person 10 Police
Headquarters. Superintendent Murray approved the
captains action and the Board Of Police Commissioners
Adams appointed the police force about eighteen
months ago, aud had been attached to Captain McCul
Of him as % good conscientious officer who can be de-
pended on TO do his duty properly. STANDARDIZATION.
open and unguarded. He said: I've always leave the
gates open during visiting hours We are only respons
q policeman can't hold his prisoner its none OF my
business. / don't know what the practice was before
same here"
court officer said that 1t had always been the practice
keep the outer closed until the last prisoner had
been sent down and the court was closed.
Dehan, AdaIns's other prisoner who had been lett
standing the stairway, taken in charge by his
father, and when he had had his dinner taken back
70 the Eizabeth-st. station
Adams was before Justice Duffy in the Tombs Pc
hco Court al p He had removed his uniform. and
when he arragned at the bar he cried bitterly He
told his story OF the shooting. which does differ
terally from thai already told Justice Duffy read the
section OF the Penal Code which tells TO what extent
officer go prevent prisoners from escaping IL
felony been committed and the prisoner attempts to
escape an officer is justified In taking his e but this Is
not permissible in a Of misdemeanor only. Adams
was paroled in the custody of Cap ain McCullagh.
Coroner Levy was summohed 10 tne ena1srs or,e1,
statement He gave permit for the removal OF the body
TO the fathers house. and 1t was taken there last night